Vehicle top



' 1,629,588 May 1927' c. A. ROTTHOUSE VEHICLE TOP Filed A112. 28. 1925 gwuentoz Patented May 24, 1927.

UNITED STATES teases Parent tries.

CHARLES A. RO'ITHOUSE, 0F BRANDYWINE HUNDRED, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I-IALF T0 EDWARD G. COOK, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

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Application filed August 28, 1925.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle tops, being more particularly concerned. with motortvehicles of the closed type, and seeks, among other objects, to provide an improved stringer to overlie the cross bows of the top.

The invention seeks as a further object, to provide a stringer which may be constructed in long lengths and cut, at the time of use, to meet the requirements of the par ticular top being equipped.

A further object is to provide a stringer which, as compared with existing stringers, may be more easily and quickly applied, thereby effecting a saving in time.

Another and equally important objectof the invention is to provide a stringer which will present a smooth surface to the top cover so as to avoid abrasion of the cover.

And the invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide a stringer which may be economically manufactured.

Other objects of the invention not specifically mentioned will appear in the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the body of a closed motor vehicle and having its top cover broken away to illustrate the mounting of the stringers.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of one of the stringers.

In accordance with present day practice, the tops of closed motor vehicle bodies are usually equipped with stringers which extend longitudinally of the top across the cross bows for supporting the top cover. Ordinarily, the stringers are nailed to the cross bows but the nails usually Work up and punch holes in the top cover. The use of screws would, of course, overcome this difficulty more or less, but for a moderate priced car, the use of screws requires too much time for installation. Some times the stringers are countersunk in the cross bows but this requires the tedious operation of notching the cross bows to accommodate the stringers while, in any instance wherein the string Serial No. 53,179.

ersare positioned directly against the upper edges of the cross hows, it is necessary to incur the expense and loss of time incident to the installation of filler strips between the stringers at the cross bows in order that a smooth surface may be presented to the top cover. The present invention, therefore, seeks to overcome these various dllIlCIlltlGS.

In Figure 1 of the drawings is shown a portion of a motor vehicle body at 10. The cross bows of the top of the body are indicated at 11 and the top cover at 12. In accordance with the present improvements, I employ substantially T-shaped stringers 13. These stringers are constructed of suitable resilient sheet metal bent to provide a vertical flange 14; of double thickness, and extending in opposite directions from said flange are lateral flanges 15. As best brought out in Figure 3, the flanges 15 are substantially concavo convex in cross section and are disposed with their concave sides presented downwardly while, as sug gested in Figure &, thestringers are formed in stock lengths which may be cut off to provide a number of stringers suited in length to the top of the car being equipped. Formed in the cross bows 11, with the exception of the front and rear cross bows, are alined vertical slots 16 which snugly receive the flanges 14 of the stringers so that the flanges 15 thereof thus overlie the upper edges of said cross bows, and since the latter flanges are bowed transversely, the outer longitudinal margins thereof curve downwardly toward the bows while the outer longitudinal edges of the flanges 15 yieldably bear against the upper edges of said bows. Smooth surfaces are thus presented to the top cover 15 while the outer longitudinal edges of the flanges 15 will be tightly held against the bows and prevented from curling up to cause abrasion of the top cover.

At the ends of'the stringers the flanges 14 thereof are, as shown in Figure 2, bent to lie flat beneath one of the flanges 15 for a short distance, and the flattened ends thus pro duced on the stringers are positioned flat against the upper edges of the front and rear cross bows of the top. Extending through the flanges 15 at the flattened ends of the stringers into said front and rear cross bows are suitable fastening devices 17 The stringers are thus rigidly secured in position for sustaining the top cover and since the stringers are formed of thin material, as compared with a wooden stringer, no filler strips are required between the stringers at the cross bows.

Having thus, described the invention,

What I claim is:

1. In a vehicle top, cross bows including front, rear and intermediate bows, and a metallic stringer secured to the front and rear bows and having a depending flange cngaged with the intermediate bows.

2. In a vehicle top, cross bows including front, rearand intermediate hows, the intermediate bows being provided with slots, and a metallic stringer secured to the front and rear bows and having 21 depending flange engagged in said slots.

3. In a vehicle top, cross bows including front, rear and intermediate bows, and a metallic stringer secured to certain of said bows and having a vertical flange countersunk in the intermediate bows and lateral flanges overlying the bows.

41:. A vehicle top con'iprising supports and stringers of sheet metal bentto provide a vertical flange of double thickness and oppositely disposed c-oncavo-convex lateral flanges disposed with their concave sides presented downwardly.

In testimony whereof I arhx my signature.

CHARLES A. ROTTHOUS E. [n s] 

